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LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. 

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KIRST AND SECOND DIAQRANIS 
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THIRD DIAQRAIVI. 



Throne of lenry YIH. 



THE LIBRARY 
OF CONGRESS 

WASHINGTON 



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ej^Y'H^'^ William the Norman ascended the throne, 
yV Matilda of Flanders, a sweet Saxon beauty, 

Oame as his queen, and in her alone 
Were united the graces of love, art, and duty. 
For she, like many high ladies of rank 
Who lived in that day, wrought yards upon yards 
Of beautiful tapestry, which in value ne'er sank, 
But is still a great prize. Next was sung by the bards. 

II. 

The second great queen of whom we have record 
Descended from Alfred the Great, whose uncheckered 
Fair fame has by many a writer been written. 
'T was Matilda Jthe Good, sweet daughter of Britain. 
The king that she married was Henry Beauclerc, 
Whose mixture of virtues and vices was rare. 

III. 

And who, after the death of Matilda, had heard 
Of the far-renowned beauty and virtue of one 
Adelicia, the Fair Maid of Brabant, who stirred 
All the court's admiration. When her day was done, 

IV. 

Came a modest young heiress, Matilda of Boulogne, 
Whom KingStephen married, who usurped the throne. 
Sweet and pious was she, a good queen and wife. 
Next to taste the joys of a monarch's life 



Was Henry's wife, Eleanor of Aquitaine, 

Who brought to his crown a splendid domain. 

Lovely and fair was she, brave and bright ; 

In both French and Latin she could read and write, 

And yet her husband she scorned and mocked. 

Till all the Court at her manners were shocked. 

After her death, in twelve hundred and four, 

VI. 

Came Berangaria of Navarre, 

Who followed her Lord Richard near and far; 

Stately, courageous, tender and true, 

All love and reverence were her due. 

Though queen of a land she knew but by fame. 

VII. 

Then reigned Isabella of Angouleme, 

Queen Consort to King John Lackland. 

But fifteen was she when he sought her hand ; 

Pretty was she, but light and too gay, this queen. 

VIII. 

Then followed, with blithe and winsome mien, 
Eleanor of Provence, with Henry the Third. 
Of her talent for poetry much had been heard, 
Surnamed from her wonderful beauty " La Belle." 
In her husband's absence she governed quite well. 
She had two brave sons, and daughters two, 
Who mourned her long. The next we view, 



IX. 

Eleanor of Castile, Edward's child-wife, 
As she older grew led a sweet, gentle life ; 
For his life her own she risked in Holy Land, 
And his sufferings soothed with a loving hand. 

X. 

When fell the end of this tender life. 
Marguerite of France became Edward's wife. 
She was beautiful and cultured, fond of display; 
That Edward was poor filled her heart with dismay. 
His death at seventy caused her many a tear ; 
Being just twenty-six, it proved her sincere. 

XI. 

Wife of Edward the Second, Isabella the Fair, 
Came next to the throne with a wardrobe quite rare. 
This king has been reckoned a very weak man, 
Whom she grieved by wrong ways. Laying her plan, 
The king's death she contrived. Then a new reign 
began. 

XII. 

Phillippa of Hainault, Queen of Edward the Third, 
Was so royally true that all trusted her word. 
But fifteen was Edward w^hen he married her. 
Then all over England it made quite a stir. 
Their very brave son was called the "Black Prince." 
He was never surpassed in his own time nor since. 
His wife. Princes Joan, was the beautiful daughter 
Of the Earl of Kent, when the Black Prince sought her. 

XIII. 

Next A nne of Bohemia, of fair maiden fame, 
Queen Consort of Richard the Second became. 



Of this wife the monarch was very fond. 

And cherished her well till death broke the bond. 

XIV. 

Tho' grieved at her loss, again he was wed 

To Isabelle of Valois, who reigned in Anne's stead. 

This noble princess, in history famed, 

" The Little Queen," has been surnamed; 

For when eight years old she became the queen 

Of Richard of Bordeaux. The next on the scene 

XV. 

Is the young princess of Navarre, 

The fairest of her sex by far. 

Her name was Joan, 

And she loved ne'er a man 

Till she met John, the valiant in war. 

For her beauty she was celebrated. 

And John with her face was elated. 

And when he did die. 

For weeks she would cry ; 

But to Henry the Fourth she was mated. 

XVI. 

Then came to the throne, in fourteen twenty — 

After there had been war in plenty — 

Henry the Fifth, who grasped at the chance 

To demand as his queen good Catherine of France. 

Altho' her graces were not very rare, 

Yet as a queen she proved to be fair. 

For Henry, tho' busy with war and strife. 

Always was true to and loved his own wife. 

The king, because of the brave deeds he had done. 

Left two great kingdoms to his widow and son. 



XVII. 

Margaret of Anjou next ruled this domain, 

Whose mother was Isabella of Duchy Loraine. 

All agreed she was more than fair in the face, 

For she ruled her kingdom with royal grace. 

At the early age of sweet fifteen 

Of Henry Sixth she became the queen, 

And the rest of her life was spent in strife. 

For Henry, poor king, too simple was he. 

His mind was no more than a child's should be 

To govern justly his land, 

So she ruled in his stead with a warlike hand. 

XVIII. 

Then Elizabath Woodville, the belle of the court, 
Who 'd a beautiful face, but of money was short. 
The wife oi King Edward the Fourth became. 
Whose contests for power gave his reign great fame. 

XIX. 

Next came the last of Plantagenet's queens, 
Warwick's fair Anne,Eichard's wife, by whose means 
Edward of Lancaster, her husband, was killed. 
At the death of her son grief her heart o'erfllled ; 
Ne'er again knew she either health or peace. 
Till sad eighty-tour, when death brought her release. 
Naught marks the spot where poor Anne rests from 

fears, 
And from the sorrows of her thirty -one years. 

XX. 

Lancaster and York so long had fought. 
That their union was a happy thought. 
The roses of red and white were mingled, 



When from Yorkish maidens Henry singled 
Elizabeth out as his queen to be, 
And thus from war his land was free. 

Then followed the Bluebeard of English kings, 
Who on six slight fingers placed marriage rings. 

XXI.-XXVII. 

For Henry the Eighth was far from a paragon 

AVhen he was wedded to Catherine of Arragon. 

She pleased his fancy for awhile. 

And then on her he ceased to smile. 

And tried by laws of Romish Church 

To leave poor Catherine in the lurch. 

But Clement the Seventh would not agree 

That he from her divorced should be. 

So Henry from the church withdrew, 

And established one entirely new. 

Divorced from Catherine, he made his queen 

The beautiful, sparkling Anne Boleyn, 

Who charmed him for a season, 

And then, without apparent reason. 

He sent her to the gloomy Tower, 

Where she spent many a weary hour. 

Accused of a crime she had not committed. 

And to see dear friends was not permitted; 

Then was beheaded, and at last found rest. 

This was the mother of the great Queen Bess. 

The very next day, oh ! sad to relate ! 

The wicked King Henry felt need of a mate, 

And married was he to the gentle Queen Jane, 

And began his career as a lover again. 

In less than a year death claimed her his bride. 

And Henry was saved from one more homicide. 

The next lady he sought was plain Anne of Cleves, 



Having seen a fine portrait, wbich often deceivea. 
Having married the princess, it follows, of course, 
He must cut off her head, or get a divorce ; 
So they were divorced, she keeping her head. 
Gladly losing a very bad husband instead. 
In a fornight there then appeared on the scene. 
In the court of King Henry, Catherine Howard. 
But in a short time this dreadful old coward 
Cut off the head of poor Catherine Howard. 
In the heaven of marriage the last brilliant star 
That shone on his vision was Catherine Parr. 
She lived an example of virtue and truth, 
As the wife of a king who was wanting in both. 



Mary the Bloody, daughter of Henry and Kate, 
Ascending the throne, chose Philip her mate. 
Unhappy together, yet agreed in religion, 
To persecute heretics was a mutual decision. 
The neglect of her husband and the loss of Calais 
Hastened her death, but did not dismay 

XXVIII. 

Her subjects, who welcomed Elizabeth, Queen, 
The innocent object of schemes foul and mean ; 
Just twenty-five, powerful, charming and wise, [sighs. 
From the heart of king, prince and knight rose many 
Yet all quite in vain, for she would not be wed, 
But lived ever a virgin. Then reigned in her stead 

XXIX. 

Anne of Denmark and James, who by proxy were 

married. 
The ship she embarked in, near the Danish shores 

tarried ; 



Held by the winds in this dismal condition, 

She wrote to King James a piteous petition ; 

Bo he with bold daring went out to her aid, 

And successfully rescued this tempest-tossed maid. 

XXX. 

King Charles' visit at the court of France, 

Began the next chapter of royal romance. 

Altho' betrothed to the Infanta of Spain, 

Fate had decreed that she should not reign ; 

For being enamored of Henrietta Marie, 

He determined at once his bride she should be. 

This lovely young girl, whom all did admire. 

For her beautiful face and s|)lendid attire. 

Was possessed of a temper unruly and ill. 

And none could resist the force of her will. 

And all that the king could do or could say 

Only strengthened her purpose to have her own way. 

XXXI. 

The next Queen, Catherine of Braganza, 
To sound whose praise I write this stanza, 
Was the beautiful wife of Charles the Second, 
And tho' very good was the princess reckoned. 
She awoke no love in her husband's heart. 
And they would have been happier apart. 
When her husband died the land she spurned. 
And to Portugal as its queen returned. 

XXXII. 

Though not anxious to share the royal sway, 
As in some still cloister she wished to stay, 
Mary Beatrice took the next vows, 
And of James the Second became the spouse. 
But three vears he called the crown his own, 



When the people forced him to leave the throne. 
Then Queen Mary to France did flee, 
"Where, a nun, the rest of her lite spent she. 

XXXIII. 

Mary, the wite of William the Third, 

From the Orange Princedom was next transferred, 

To be the queen of this famous land. 

As she had accepted William's hand. 

He was thirty-nine when called to the throne. 

Which was very well known to be her own. 

Both wise and good was she proved to be. 

And also very good was he. 

XXXIV. 

And when William died, Anne took the crown ; 
Though in peace, yet not with a will of her own, 
For by Marlborough, Lord and Lady, controlled, 
Whate'er they required she dared not withhold. 
Though in temper mild, she engaged in war. 
And gave to her age a great name afar. 
Though but dull herself, yet genius she nournished, 
And letiers and art in her time both flourished. 

XXXV. 

Next Sophia of Zell married George of Brunswick ; 
Slow and stupid was he, she bright and quick. 
At last her wild actions had shocked even him. 
So he kept her for life in a fortress grim. 

XXXVI. 

Her successor had scarcely a fairer fame ; 
To Caroline Auspach many suitors came, 



Prince George of Hanover won the lovely dame, 

Since her family for his suit decided ; 

And though at first her lover she derided, 

At length she became his beloved wife. 

She led the king quite a lively life ; 

It we call her by the name of flirt. 

Her reputation we will not hurt. 

XXXVIL 

Of the next prinoe.ss no doubt you liave heard, 
Charlotte Sophia, the queen of George Third. 
She was brought up well, and tho' not beautiful, 
She was both affectionate and dutiful. 
Her life, full of grief, was a long one. When past. 
Came another less noble, more sad than the last. 

XXXVIII. 

For she of Brunswick made an error for life. 

When of George the Fourth she became the wife. 

As he was too much of a lady's man 

To devote to one woman his life. He began 

In an evil moment, without much thought, 

The union which proved such a fatal knot. 

Although Caroline's traits were not all good, 

Yet she far ahead of her husband stood. 

The king soon tired of his faithful mate. 

So they both thought best to separate. 

Still feeling that she held a royal station, 

She wished to appear at his coronation. 

Such treatment he gave her that day as to rouse 

His already overburdened spouse 

To such a degree that the fatal disease 

Seized her, and left her forever at ease ! 



XXXIX. 

Then another fair dame from Brunswick came, 
Wife of William, Adelaide was her name. 
Goodness and gentleness crowned her with fame. 
Cheerful and happy, with friends by her side, 
She loved not display. Her chief joy and pride 
Was in founding schools for the humbler classes. 
And supplying the need of hungry masses. 
AVilliam died resting on the arm of his wife, 
The woman he' d loved so dearly through life ; 
With charity and kind pity for all. 
Her life shines out star-like, too lofty to fall. 



XL. 

At last, through the ages from William the First, 
In which England's grandeur and strength have been 

nursed. 
There comes to the throne as the sovereign a woman, 
Whose name to the nations of good seems an omen. 
Her widely known conquests, by land and by sea. 
Have made her the greatest of monarchs, and she 
As Empress of India a proud title bears, [shares 

Tho' Prince Albert, her husband, no more with her 
Her domain ; it extends as far east as Manchooria, 
And the sun never sets on the realms of Victoria ! 



SUGGESTIONS AS fDO ©LA6E. 



Platform does not require much decoration, but 
curtains at the back, of some rich dark color, will 
throw the figures into good relief, and a handsome 
rug on the floor will enhance the efiect. The back 
corners might be filled with tall plants. 

The front curtain, if arranged to draw apart in the 
center, is most effective. 

The first group of ten being placed as suggested in 
the first diagram, i. e., so that no one shall stand in 
front of another, the reader begins; then No. 1, 
who is being described, moves forward to the posi- 
tion of the center. A word in the last line of her 



description is chopen as her cue, which, being pro- 
nounced, all shift their positions. No. 1 moves to 
the position of No. 10, at the left, No. 10 to that of 
No. 9, each one to the position of the number before 
her own. No. 2 steps to No. I's place. Thus each 
passes in review while her description is being read 
and the crescent form is preserved till the curtain 
drops. 

The fourth and fifth groups, being smaller, will 
occupy but a single crescent. 

Reader, either on the stage or below, as is most 
convenient. 



Dl^BSS. 



All wear crowns, but of several different designs. 

All queens in their own right carry sceptres on the 

side presented to the audience as they cross the 



Wherever no especial dress is named or known, 
white is suitable. Large squares of tarleton can be 
used for the veils. A long trailing mantle or dal- 
matica is also suitable for any one of the queens. Can- 



ton flannel, with dashes of black, imitates ermine. 
Holbein's Portraits (prints). Strickland's Queens of 
England. 

1. Matilda of Flanders. Beautiful and delicate. 
White or blue gatliered full around the throat. A 
long veil confined to her brow by the crown falls 
down her shoulders, any length. Crown an open 
circlet of gems. 

2. Matilda of Scotland. Fair complexion and 
elegant form. Royal mantle of scarlet, lined with 
fnr. 

3. Adelicia of Louvain. Noted for beauty and 
goodness. Dress simple. 

4. Matilda of Boulogne. Bright and interesting. 
Very long veil. 

5. Eleanor of Aquitaine. One of the most beau- 
tiful women of all Europe. Brilliant, magnificent 
in dress. She first brought brocades from Constanti- 
nople. Undergown with light sleeves of India 
silk, plain. An open robe of gold and silver, or any 
other colors, brocade. Circlet of gems confined a 
square of lace. 

6. Berangaria of Navarre. Large, full-faced, hand- 
some. Double crown. Profusion of dark hair falling 
from under her crown. White lawn dress gathered 
up around her throat. Mantilla, Spanish style a 
large shawl really — of white lace, worn over head 
and shoulders. Bands of jewels confined dress at 
the waist and bosom. 

7. Isabella of Angouleme. Very handsome. A 
gold throat collar, i. e., a high band, above her dress. 

8. Eleanor of Provence. Chaplets of gold and 
jewels, and a jeweled girdle. 

9. Eleanor of Castile. Low brow, Spanish style, 
dark hair and large dark eyes. Crown of trefoil 



points ; hair worn falling on her shoulders ; ten 
years old when married ; underdress of white ; 
sleeveless overrobe of any color, with a large clasp 
at the breast. 

10. Marguerite of France. Dark hair and eyes. 
Beautiful crowning fleur de lis. A loose dress, 
belted with a band of jewels. Long mantle of pur- 
ple velvet. 

11. Isabella the Fair. Very pretty. Gay. Dresses 
of gold and silver stuff, and shot taffety ; green cloth 
or changeable silk or rose-colored dress, and fur 
mantle ; thirteen years old. 

12. Phillippa of Hainault. Large, noble looking 
and large featured ; hair hung in nets on either side 
of her face ; crown, a low straight band ; plain dress, 
laced up in front or drawn up around neck. 

13. Anne of Bohemia. Not pretty. Brought in 
horned caps two or three feet high. Square veil 
hung from one point and folded in at the center. 
Rich crown, blazing with jewels. 

14. Isabella of Valois. Eight years old when 
Queen. Overskirt shorter in front; long waisted 
basque, square necked, trimmed with ermine. 

15 Joana of Navarre. Majestic in appearance ; 
dark hair and eyes ; high forehead ; hair in puffs 
anil curls ; crown alternate leaf and trefoil ; broad 
necklace of jewels, dalmatica, like a circular, with 
slits for the hands to come through. 

10. Catherine of France. Fair ; red and white 
complexion; bright hair in profusion; graceful; 
long robe, trimmed with ermine ; crown of rounded 
points. 

17. Margaret Anjou. Handsome ; daisies on hel- 
met and crests ; fourteen years old ; curling hair 
looped up with pearls ; white chemisette, gathered 



at throat into a band of pearls ; long robe, with wide 
ermine border. 

18. Elizabeth Woodville. Very beautiful ; hair 
brushed back from her face in embroidered coif; 
row of pearls around her throat. 

19. Anne of Warwick. Fine looking; long hair 
falling on shoulders; plain dress around cape 
of ermine ; lieavy crown. 

20. Elizabeth of York. Not pretty, but tall and 
fair; hair plain and long; heavy veil worn overtop 
of her head, which hung in folds about her, finished 
with embroidered bands; dress low on shoulders; 
surplice waist of white cloth of gold, damasked. 

21. Cathe.ine of Arragon. Stately and elegant; 
coil of white silk, with a scarf finished with gold 
and pearls, which covered her whole person ; gown 
very full, and large round hat and hoops. 

Henry Eighth. I.arge hat turned up and trimmed 
with feathers ; robe. 

22. Anne Boleyn. Head dress a pointed velvet 
hood or cape, looped up with pearls; large puffed 
and slashed sleeves ; long waist ; gay colors. 

23. Jane Seymour. Same style. 

24. Anne of Cleves. Plain square neck, puffed 
sleeves, with epaulettes. 

25. Catherine Howard. Same style as Anne Boleyn. 

26. Cat'ierine Parr. Same. 

27. Mary Queen Regnant. Homely ; three-pointed 
hood of velvet ; brocade. 



28. Elizabeth. Not pretty ; red hair ; well known 
ruff ; black velvet, square neck. 

29. Anne of Denmark. Hair brushed back from 
face ; high bonnet or hat, wilh flaring brim ; ruff. 

30. Henrietta Tdarie. Flashing round-faced beauty ; 
curling hair about her brow ; immense sleeves ; 
green dress ; white satin bodice. 

31. Catherine of Braganza. Large, fine eyes ; hair 
curled like a wig on both sides of her face ; a plain 
band for a crown, from which fall long feathers. 

32. Mary Beatrice Beautiful ; great quantity of 
curling hair; scarlet dress, fringe of gold; blue scarf 
crosses one shoulder and falls to the ground. 

33. Mary Second. Large, strong features ; long- 
pointed waist and puffed sleeves. 

34. Anne. Pointed velvet hood, same as above. 

35. Sophia of Zell. Gay and fascinating ; thirty 
years a captive ; plain dress would do. 

36. Caroline of Auspach. Round face. 

37. Charlotte Sophia. Dresses in early Godess' 
Book would be suitable ; endless mantle of violet 
velvet. 

38. Caroline of Brunswick. Long, straight dress 
ruffled on the bottom with flchu. 

39. Adelaide. Quietly dressed. 

40. Victoria. Round face, short figure ; low necked 
dress, pointed hood under crown, broad ribbon over 
one shoulder. 



